What is a Product Explainer Video?

A product explainer video or product overview video is a short, engaging video designed to introduce your product to your target audience. 

These videos are crafted to explain complex ideas in a clear and concise way, using visuals, narration, and often a voiceover to walk viewers through how a product works, why it’s valuable, and how it solves common pain points.

Product explainer videos are versatile assets in a video marketing strategy, often used by SaaS companies, startups, and enterprises alike. They rely on high-quality production techniques to hold viewers' attention and are usually featured on landing pages, social media channels, or embedded in sales materials. 

The best explainer videos combine engaging visuals and a compelling story with a strong value proposition to convert potential customers into buyers.

Product Explainer Videos vs. Demo Videos

While product explainer videos and product demo videos are both tools for showcasing your product, they serve different purposes and target slightly different stages of the buyer's journey. 

The purpose of a product explainer video is to introduce your product and explain how it solves a specific problem. It’s ideal for people who are just learning about your product or trying to understand why it matters. It’s usually animated or scripted, with simple visuals and a clear narrative that outlines the problem, the solution (your product), and the value it delivers.

A product demo video shows the product in action and highlights how specific features work. It’s for people who are further along in the buying process and want to evaluate whether the product is the right fit for their needs. Product demo videos use screen recordings, live walkthroughs, or step-by-step demonstrations to walk viewers through workflows, features, and usability.

In summary:

  • Explainer Videos are about the why and what. They capture attention and simplify the big picture.
  • Demo Videos are about the how. They provide the nuts-and-bolts details that help close the deal.

Product Explainer Videos FAQs

Best Explainer Video Examples

The best explainer videos don’t just describe a product—they connect with viewers, break down complex ideas, and showcase how a product solves real-world problems. Whether you’re a SaaS company, a startup, or an enterprise, these videos are essential for grabbing attention and communicating your value proposition in a memorable way. Below are five standout examples of explainer videos and what makes them great:

1. Intercom – Real-World Scenarios

Intercom’s product explainer video focuses on customer communication challenges by walking viewers through specific, relatable scenarios. The video highlights how businesses can improve support and engagement using Intercom’s tools, delivering a practical, approachable tone.

What Makes It Great:

  • Focuses on real business problems and how Intercom solves them.
  • Combines screen recordings with clear narration, creating a step-by-step walkthrough.
  • Builds trust by showing exactly how the product works in real-life contexts.

2. Canva Magic Studio – Seamless Storytelling

Canva’s explainer video showcases how anyone—regardless of design experience—can create stunning visuals using their Magic Studio tools. The video highlights user benefits like saving time, boosting creativity, and simplifying complex design projects through a mix of real-life examples and product animations.

What Makes It Great:

  • Speaks directly to user pain points like time constraints and lack of design skills.
  • Balances storytelling and feature demos to make the product experience feel personal.
  • Emphasizes how technology makes creative work accessible for all.

3. Airtable – Polished and Practical

Airtable’s product explainer video shows how the platform blends spreadsheets and databases to create custom workflows. Through polished visuals and a clear script, the video breaks down how Airtable supports businesses in organizing and automating their processes.

What Makes It Great:

  • Visually demonstrates the flexibility of Airtable’s interface.
  • Focuses on high-value use cases like project management and data tracking.
  • Makes complex functionality feel simple and accessible.

4. Clari – Data-Driven Insights

Clari’s explainer video is designed for revenue-focused teams, showcasing how the platform provides data-driven insights to predict and improve business outcomes. The video effectively uses sleek animations and real-world examples to show how Clari drives revenue growth.

What Makes It Great:

  • Tailored messaging for revenue operations, sales, and customer success teams.
  • Uses crisp visuals and animation to simplify complex data processes.
  • Highlights the measurable ROI of adopting the product.

5. Descript – A New Way to Edit

Descript’s product explainer video introduces a revolutionary way to edit audio and video content. By walking users through the platform’s key features—like transcription editing and screen recording—the video emphasizes how Descript saves time and streamlines workflows for creators.

What Makes It Great:

  • Breaks down technical features into easy-to-understand benefits.
  • Uses the product interface as the centerpiece, letting the tool speak for itself.
  • Appeals directly to content creators with relatable problems and time-saving solutions.

Why These Videos Stand Out

Each of these examples showcases a product’s unique value while remaining clear, engaging, and practical. They all succeed because they:

  • Focus on solving real-world problems.
  • Use relatable scenarios or compelling storytelling.
  • Highlight benefits in a way that resonates with target audiences.

If you’re creating an explainer video, these examples provide a roadmap for effectively communicating your product’s value in a way that grabs attention and drives action.

Want More Examples?

Explore even more standout explainer video examples in our archive of assets, where we showcase different styles—including live-action explainer videos, animated explainer video examples, whiteboard explainer videos, and more.

Each of these examples illustrates how great explainer videos use high-quality visuals, strong storytelling, and a clear call to action to deliver results. If you’re looking to embed explainer videos into your sales process, platforms like Dock allow you to create personalized sales rooms where your explainer video is presented alongside testimonials, pricing quotes, and other key materials.

Types of Product Explainer Videos

There are many types of explainer videos, each suited to different use cases and marketing strategies:

  1. Animated Explainer Videos: Use 2D animation, 3D animation, or motion graphics to break down complex ideas in a visually engaging way. These are ideal for SaaS products and startups.
  2. Live-Action Explainer Videos: Feature real people using the product, often paired with voiceovers and testimonials. A great example is Dollar Shave Club’s viral live-action explainer video, which blends humor with product functionality.
  3. Whiteboard Explainer Videos: Use whiteboard animations to simulate a hand drawing visuals in real time. This style works well for education-focused videos or technical products.
  4. Screenshare Videos: Showcase a product’s interface in action by recording a screenshare. These are particularly useful for SaaS products, allowing viewers to see exactly how the product works.
  5. Customer-Focused Videos: Include testimonials or case studies from satisfied clients to boost brand awareness and trust.

When Should You Use a Product Explainer Video?

Product explainer videos are best used in situations where you need to communicate the value of your product quickly and clearly. Here are some key times to leverage them:

  • On Your Homepage: Place your explainer video front and center to grab viewers' attention and introduce your product to website visitors.
  • In Sales Pitches: Embed explainer videos in Dock digital sales rooms to give prospects a quick overview of your offering as part of a broader presentation.
  • On Social Media: Share short, engaging snippets of your explainer video on platforms like LinkedIn or Instagram to attract potential customers.
  • On YouTube Channels: Upload full-length videos to your YouTube channel to expand your reach and drive traffic to your landing pages.
  • During Onboarding: Use explainer videos to help new users understand your product’s key functionalities quickly.

What Should You Include in a Product Explainer Video?

The best explainer video examples include the following key components:

  1. Clear Problem Statement: Start by addressing your target audience’s pain points.
  2. Solution Overview: Show how your product solves these problems with engaging visuals and voiceovers.
  3. Key Features and Functionalities: Highlight the most important aspects of your product without overwhelming viewers.
  4. Call to Action: End with a strong call to action, like “Sign Up Now” or “Book a Demo,” to guide viewers toward the next step.
  5. Polished Video Production: High-quality visuals, seamless transitions, and sound effects help keep attention spans in check.

Product Explainer Video Best Practices & Tips

  1. Focus on Storytelling: Don’t just list features—use storytelling to connect emotionally with your target audience.
  2. Keep It Short: Attention spans are short, so aim for 60–90 seconds.
  3. Embed in Dock Digital Sales Rooms: Instead of sending a standalone link, embed your product explainer video in a Dock sales room. This creates a centralized hub where your explainer video sits alongside other key resources, like pricing quotes and testimonials, giving prospects a full view of your offering.
  4. Invest in Quality: High-quality video production makes your content stand out and reflects well on your brand.
  5. Use Analytics: Dock’s engagement analytics let you track how prospects interact with your video, so you can refine your approach.

Product Explainer Video Mistakes to Avoid

  1. Overloading with Information: Stick to the key functionalities and keep the message clear.
  2. Poor Visuals: Avoid low-quality visuals or amateur video production, as these can reduce your credibility.
  3. Skipping a CTA: Every great explainer video needs a strong call-to-action to drive conversions.
  4. No Context: Always deliver your explainer video with supporting materials. Dock sales rooms allow you to surround the video with additional resources, such as testimonials, whitepapers, and pricing quotes, to create a more complete picture.

How to Share Product Explainer Videos Internally

  • Centralize with Dock: Use Dock’s content management system to store explainer videos and other assets in one place. This makes it easy for sales teams to find and share them with potential customers.
  • Training Sessions: Product explainer videos are excellent tools for training new hires or refreshing the team on key functionalities.
  • Gather Feedback: Share videos internally for feedback before releasing them to ensure they resonate with your target audience.

How to Share Product Explainer Videos with Clients

  • Embed in Dock Digital Sales Rooms: Dock allows you to embed product explainer videos alongside other materials in a tailored space for each prospect. This makes it easy for them to see the big picture of your offering.
  • Sales Emails: Include links to your Dock sales room in follow-up emails, where clients can find your explainer video along with testimonials and pricing information.
  • On Social Media: Post your explainer video or snippets of it on platforms like LinkedIn, directing prospects to a landing page or Dock sales room for more details.

How to Measure Product Explainer Video Success

  1. Engagement Analytics: Use Dock to see how prospects interact with your video—how long they watch, which parts they replay, and what other materials they view.
  2. Conversion Rates: Measure whether the video drives viewers to take the next step, like booking a demo or requesting pricing.
  3. Viewers’ Attention: Track metrics like completion rates to see how well your video holds attention spans.
  4. Lead Quality: Are the leads generated after watching the video aligned with your target audience?
  5. Team Feedback: Ask your sales team if the video is helping them close deals.

By focusing on these metrics, you can continuously improve your video content and marketing strategy.